Trump Requests Rp1,500 Trillion from Congress Following War with Iran

US President Donald Trump has submitted a request for an additional budget of US$87.6 billion, or approximately Rp1,500 trillion, to Congress to finance various needs related to American military operations against Iran. The move came just a day after Congress passed a resolution reprimanding the government’s decision to launch military action without legislative approval. In a proposal sent by the White House to US House Speaker Mike Johnson, approximately US$67 billion is allocated to the Department of Defence to meet the needs of Operation Epic Fury. The budget breakdown includes US$21 billion for ammunition procurement, US$17.3 billion to fund military operations, and US$12.1 billion for classified programmes. The government is also requesting an additional US$300 million to strengthen security at US embassies and diplomatic offices in the Middle East and South Asia after several diplomatic facilities were targeted during the conflict. The remainder of the additional budget will be used for programmes outside the defence sector, including US$11 billion for American farmers and US$1.4 billion for handling the Ebola outbreak in Central Africa. A letter from the White House Office of Management and Budget stressed that most of the funds are needed to meet urgent requirements arising from military operations against Iran, as well as to replenish weapons stockpiles depleted during the attacks. However, the proposal’s chances of passing are not easy. The war against Iran still faces opposition from a majority of the American public ahead of the midterm elections scheduled for November. Although a ceasefire between Washington and Tehran is currently in place, the debate over the policy has not subsided. Trump is also facing friction within the Republican Party. Several party members believe the decision to launch military operations should have obtained Congressional approval first. One opponent is Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana. Cassidy was among a handful of Republican senators who supported a resolution for Trump to stop the war or seek Congressional blessing before continuing military action. American media reported that Cassidy was involved in an argument with Trump on Wednesday (25/6). However, after receiving an explanation from administration officials, he ultimately returned to supporting the White House’s position and joined in rejecting a similar resolution reintroduced in the Senate that evening. Nevertheless, the political dynamics in Washington are far from over. Amid the ongoing ceasefire with Iran, the Trump administration still believes the Pentagon needs to immediately restore its weapons stockpile to maintain military readiness.